A Mississippi family’s search for answers continues after the state attorney general’s office ruled that an officer’s use of deadly force was justified in a shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley.

Kohen was inside a vehicle outside a Walmart in Senatobia when police responded to an alleged shoplifting incident in June. Authorities said the vehicle moved toward officers, prompting an officer to fire. The child was killed, and the driver was injured. (people.com⁠)

The family disputes the police account. Their attorney, Ben Crump, has pointed to an independent autopsy that he says indicates Kohen was shot from the side of the vehicle. The family has called for the release of body-camera footage to help establish what happened. (apnews.com⁠)

The attorney general’s decision, reported October 19, has renewed questions about accountability and transparency. It is important to describe that decision accurately: a finding that the officer’s force was justified is different from an acquittal following a criminal trial. (apnews.com⁠)

At the center of this story is a child whose life ended before it had truly begun, and a family left grieving while challenging the official explanation.

The public deserves a clear account of the evidence behind the decision. Releasing available footage, with appropriate protections, would allow people to assess more than competing statements.

Kohen’s life deserves to be remembered with care. His family’s questions deserve to be heard, and coverage of his death should keep accuracy, compassion and accountability at the forefront.